5 Best Movie Tie-In Video Games Of All Time, Ranked

While movie tie-in games and video games movies might get a bad rap, there are certainly exceptions to that rule. There are plenty of good games based on or inspired directly by movies, and that's been the case since the earliest days of the medium. Whether they're side-scrolling platformers or first-person shooters, games have found inventive ways to present players with recreations of fan-favorite movies. That said, there are some games that rise above the rest, encapsulating why movie tie-in games shouldn't be written off entirely.

We've already talked all about the movie tie-in games from the '90s that everyone regretted buying. Now, we're changing gears to cover games based on popular movies that players actually enjoyed thoroughly. Moreover, the games that we're listing here are each excellent in their own right, regardless of their being inspired by films. These are the five best movie tie-in video games of all time ranked, capturing and expanding upon the appeal of their respective cinematic source material.

"Star Wars" is one of those properties that has grown far beyond titles that are directly based on its movies. That said, the franchise continues to produce games that draw from films, including the "Rogue Squadron" trilogy that began on the Nintendo 64. The concluding title in this series is 2003's "Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike" for the GameCube, set during and in between the events of the original film trilogy. Players control Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles as they lead their starfighter squadron against the Galactic Empire from the Battle of Yavin through to the Battle of Endor.

"Star Wars Rogue Squadron III" may not be the best "Star Wars" video game ever made, but it's the best that's clearly based on a movie. From its memorable attack on the Death Star to a disastrous defeat on Hoth, the game drops players right into their favorite major battles from the films. The game also provides most of the missions from "Rogue Squadron II" with the addition of two-player co-op, adding a fresh spin to those fan-favorite levels. The best space shooter the franchise has seen to date, "Star Wars Rogue Squadron III" is a GameCube title in desperate need of a modern remaster.

Electronic Arts produced tie-in games based on filmmaker Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, with the pinnacle being 2003's "The Return of the King." The game is divided into three campaigns: One following the hobbits, one following Gandalf, and the last following the trio of heroes led by Aragorn. Reliving scenes from the movie, complete with clips from the film and main cast members reprising their roles, the Fellowship of the Ring cuts through Sauron's forces in beat'em-up action. This culminates in a showdown between Frodo and Gollum inside Mount Doom while the Fellowship distracts Sauron's armies at the Black Gate.

"The Return of the King" fixes the biggest thing missing from its 2002 predecessor, "The Two Towers," by including the option for two-player co-op. The game also expands the scope from its preceding title, most memorably with the defense of Minas Tirith as its centerpiece. "Lord of the Rings" games as a whole haven't been the same since, with or without the movie license. Even as fans await good news about "Lord of the Rings" games, "The Return of the King" set a highwater mark yet to be surpassed.

The 1979 action movie "The Warriors" is something of a cult classic and received a surprise video game adaptation in 2005. Like the film, the game is set in a '70s New York City where young street gangs run rampant. The game revolves around a series of missions detailing the origins of the various gang members, with several actors from the film reprising their roles. The final portion of the game depicts the events of the movie, with the Warriors fighting to return to their home turf of Coney Island.

"The Warriors" is an immersive love letter to the movie, recreating its atmospheric vision of New York City in stunning detail. While the gameplay revolves around 3D beat'em mechanics, publisher Rockstar Games incorporates elements from its "Bully" and "Grand Theft Auto" titles. This includes the Warriors becoming a fixture in the community while improving their abilities and weapons through side quests around their gang's hideout. Accessible even to those unfamiliar with the cinematic source material, "The Warriors" is one of the most underrated games Rockstar has ever published.

Compared to other superhero properties, Spider-Man has had a relatively solid track record of decent video games. That said, 2004's "Spider-Man 2" took things to a higher level for Marvel's friendly neighborhood hero while tying into the Sam Raimi movie of the same name. The game details Spider-Man stopping Doctor Octopus from destroying Manhattan, as he does in the film, but expands the story to include other major villains. Serving as a backdrop to the action is an open-world Manhattan, complete with side quests and activities for players to complete.

"Spider-Man 2" set the template for all subsequent video games starring the webslinger, but one few games have matched since. The gameplay mechanics are fantastic, including what players can do as Spider-Man throughout the game. But the real highlight is the sheer scope of being able to explore New York and the multitude of tasks available for players to experience. One of the best PS2 games of all time, "Spider-Man 2" is the greatest superhero movie tie-in game by a country mile.

You knew that "GoldenEye 007" was always going to make this list, it was just a matter of how highly it'd be ranked. Based on the 1995 James Bond movie, "GoldenEye" details 007 contending with fallout from the end of the Cold War and the theft of a Soviet weapons satellite. This adventure takes Bond from the heart of Russia to the jungles of Cuba for a final showdown with a friend and colleague turned international terrorist. The single-player campaign is accompanied by a multiplayer mode that offers a variety of game types and objectives for up to four players to get in on the fun.

There are some who would contend that "GoldenEye" has aged poorly, but the game is still a sterling high bar for what movie tie-in games should strive to be. The game recreates classic settings from the movie and expands upon them with objective-oriented missions, giving players an arsenal of weapons and gadgets. The multiplayer mode remains a lot of fun too, taking the familiar characters from the main game and letting them cut loose across hours of engaging gameplay. While the original "GoldenEye 007" wasn't perfect, it still stands as the best movie tie-in game for what it was able to thrillingly accomplish.